Method and apparatus for generating a twelve-lead ECG from fewer than ten electrodes

• US 6,636,761 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Information Technologies Incorporated (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Information Technologies Incorporated (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brodnick, Donald Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): WOLFE JR, WILLIS RAY
• Application Number:
  US09/752,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20020087088A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 600/382, 600/508, 600/509, 600/512, 600/515, 600/522, 600/523, 455/418, 455/419
• US Class Current: 600/509
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/30 Input circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/308 for electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/327 Generation of artificial ECG signals based on measured signals, e.g. to compensate for missing leads

Abstract

A method and apparatus for acquiring and processing electrical signals produced by a patient'"'"'s heart. The apparatus includes fewer than ten electrodes for attachment to the patient. Each electrode is attached in a respective one of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead ECG positions. The device includes a signal processor connected to the electrodes for acquiring electrical signals from the electrodes and generating a twelve-lead ECG from the electrical signals. The signal processor generates less than twelve of the leads mathematically.

For the method of the invention, a plurality of less than ten electrodes are attached to the patient. Each electrode is attached in a respective one of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead ECG positions. Electrical signals are acquired from the electrodes and a twelve-lead ECG is generated from the acquired electrical signals. Not all twelve leads are generated mathematically.

Claims

1. A device for acquiring and processing electrical signals produced by a patient'"'"'s heart, the device comprising:

a plurality of less than ten electrodes each for attachment to the patient in a one of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiogram electrode positions; and

a signal processor connected to the plurality of less than ten electrodes for acquiring electrical signals from the electrodes and for generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram from the electrical signals;

wherein the plurality of electrodes includes a one of (a) an electrode for attachment to the patient in approximately the fourth intercostal space at the right border of the patient'"'"'s sternum and (b) an electrode for attachment to the patient in approximately the fourth intercostal space at the left border of the patient'"'"'s sternum.

2. A method of acquiring and processing electrical signals produced by a patient'"'"'s heart, the method comprising the acts of:

attaching a plurality of less than ten electrodes to the patient, the act of attaching including

attaching each of the electrodes in a one of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiogram positions, and

attaching an electrode in one of (a) approximately the fourth intercostal space at the right border of the patient'"'"'s sternum and (b) approximately the fourth intercostal space at the left border of the patient'"'"'s sternum;

acquiring electrical signals from the electrodes; and

generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram from the acquired electrical signals.

3. A device for acquiring and processing electrical signals produced by a patient'"'"'s heart, the device comprising:

a plurality of less than ten electrodes for attachment to the patient, at least two of the electrodes attachable to the patient'"'"'s chest in two of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiograph positions and at least three of the electrodes attachable to the patient'"'"'s limbs in three of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiograph positions; and

a signal processor connected to the electrodes for acquiring electrical signals from the electrodes and for generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram from the electrical signals;

wherein the electrodes attachable to the patient'"'"'s chest include an electrode attachable in one of (a) approximately the fourth intercostal space at the right border of the patient'"'"'s sternum and (b) approximately the fourth intercostal space at the left border of the patient'"'"'s sternum.

4. A method of acquiring and processing electrical signals produced by a patient'"'"'s heart, the method comprising the acts of:

attaching a plurality of less than ten electrodes to the patient, the act of attaching including

attaching at least two of the electrodes to the patient'"'"'s chest in two of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiogram positions and attaching at least three of the electrodes to the patient'"'"'s limbs in three of the standard ten-electrode twelve-lead electrocardiogram positions, and

attaching an electrode in one of (a) approximately the fourth intercostal space at the right border of the patient'"'"'s sternum and (b) approximately the fourth intercostal space at the left border of the patient'"'"'s sternum;

acquiring electrical signals from the electrodes; and

generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram from the acquired electrical signals.

5. A device for acquiring and processing electrical signals produced by a patient'"'"'s heart, the device comprising:

a plurality of less than ten electrodes each for attachment to the patient in a one of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiogram electrode positions; and

a signal processor connected to the plurality of less than ten electrodes for acquiring electrical signals from the electrodes and for generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram from the electrical signals;

wherein the plurality of electrodes includes an electrode for attachment to the patient in approximately the fourth intercostal space at the right border of the patient'"'"'s sternum and an electrode for attachment to the patient in approximately the fifth intercostal space at the patient'"'"'s anterior axillary line.

6. A method of acquiring and processing electrical signals produced by a patient'"'"'s heart, the method comprising the acts of:

attaching a plurality of less than ten electrodes to the patient, the act of attaching including

attaching each of the electrodes in a one of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiogram positions, and

attaching an electrode in approximately the fourth intercostal space at the right border of the patient'"'"'s sternum and in approximately the fifth intercostal space at the patient'"'"'s anterior axillary line;

acquiring electrical signals from the electrodes; and

generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram from the acquired electrical signals.

7. A device for acquiring and processing electrical signals produced by a patient'"'"'s heart, the device comprising:

a plurality of less than ten electrodes each for attachment to the patient in a one of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiogram electrode positions; and

a signal processor connected to the plurality of less than ten electrodes for acquiring electrical signals from the electrodes and for generating a partially-synthesized twelve-lead electrocardiogram from the electrical signals without acquiring an actual twelve-lead electrocardiogram with ten electrodes before generating the partially-synthesized twelve-lead electrocardiogram.

8. A method of acquiring and processing electrical signals produced by a patient'"'"'s heart, the method comprising the acts of:

attaching a plurality of less than ten electrodes to the patient, the act of attaching including attaching each of the electrodes in a one of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiogram positions;

acquiring electrical signals from the electrodes; and

generating a partially-synthesized twelve-lead electrocardiogram from the acquired electrical signals without acquiring an actual twelve-lead electrocardiogram with ten electrodes before generating the partially-synthesized twelve-lead electrocardiogram.

9. A device for acquiring and processing electrical signals produced by a patient'"'"'s heart, the device comprising:

a plurality of less than ten electrodes each for attachment to the patient in a one of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiogram electrode positions;

a signal processor connected to the plurality of less than ten electrodes for acquiring electrical signals from the electrodes and for generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram from the electrical signals, the generated twelve-lead electrocardiogram including leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, and V6; and

a software module in the signal processor for mathematically generating leads V1 or V2, V3, V4, and V6 from the electrical signals, the software module generating the leads mathematically from the electrical signals acquired by the signal processor using multiple-linear regression, the software module using expansion coefficients in the multiple-linear regression.

10. A method of acquiring and processing electrical signals produced by a patient'"'"'s heart, the method comprising the acts of:

attaching a plurality of less than ten electrodes to the patient, the act of attaching including attaching each of the electrodes in a one of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiogram positions;

acquiring electrical signals from the electrodes;

generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram from the electrical signals, the twelve-lead electrocardiogram including leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, and V6; and

mathematically generating leads V1 or V2, V3, V4, and V6 from the electrical signals using multiple-linear regression and using expansion coefficients in the multiple-linear regression.

11. A device for acquiring and processing electrical signals produced by a patient'"'"'s heart, the device comprising:

a plurality of less than ten electrodes for attachment to the patient, at least two of the electrodes attachable to the patient'"'"'s chest in two of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiograph positions and at least three of the electrodes attachable to the patient'"'"'s limbs in three of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiograph positions;

a signal processor connected to the electrodes for acquiring electrical signals from the electrodes and for generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram from the electrical signals, the generated twelve-lead electrocardiogram including leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, and V6; and

a software module in the signal processor for mathematically generating leads V1 or V2, V3, V4, and V6 from the electrical signals using multiple-linear regression and using expansion coefficients in the multiple-linear regression.

12. A method of acquiring and processing electrical signals produced by a patient'"'"'s heart, the method comprising the acts of:

attaching a plurality of less than ten electrodes to the patient, the act of attaching including

attaching at least two of the electrodes to the patient'"'"'s chest in two of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiogram positions, and

attaching at least three of the electrodes to the patient'"'"'s limbs in three of the standard ten-electrode twelve-lead electrocardiogram positions;

acquiring electrical signals from the electrodes;

generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram from the electrical signals, the twelve-lead electrocardiogram including leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, and V6; and

mathematically generating leads V1 or V2, V3, V4, and V6 from the electrical signals using multiple-linear regression and using expansion coefficients in the multiple-linear regression.

13. A device for acquiring and processing electrical signals produced by a patient'"'"'s heart, the device comprising:

a plurality of less than ten electrodes each for attachment to the patient in a one of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiogram electrode positions; and

a signal processor connected to the plurality of less than ten electrodes for acquiring electrical signals from the electrodes and for generating a at least one twelve-lead electrocardiogram from the electrical signals in a time period of approximately 200 milliseconds as the electrical signals are acquired using population-based equations.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the plurality of electrodes includes a one of (a) an electrode for attachment to the patient in approximately the fourth intercostal space at the right border of the patient'"'"'s sternum and (b) an electrode for attachment to the patient in approximately the fourth intercostal space at the left border of the patient'"'"'s sternum.

15. The device of claim 13 wherein the plurality of electrodes includes an electrode attachable in approximately the fifth intercostal space at the patient'"'"'s anterior axillary line.

16. The device of claim 13 wherein the plurality of electrodes includes an electrode attachable to the patient'"'"'s left arm.

17. The device of claim 13 wherein the plurality of electrodes includes an electrode attachable to the patient'"'"'s right arm.

18. The device of claim 13 wherein the plurality of electrodes includes an electrode attachable to the patient'"'"'s left leg.

19. The device of claim 13 wherein the plurality of electrodes includes an electrode attachable to a grounding point on the patient'"'"'s body.

20. The device of claim 13 wherein the signal processor generates a twelve-lead electrocardiogram in real-time as the electrical signals are acquired.

21. The device of claim 13 and further comprising a telemetry monitor coupled to the electrodes and to the signal processor.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein the device acquires electrical signals from more than one patient.

23. The device of claim 13 wherein the generated twelve-lead electrocardiogram includes leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, and V6.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1 or V2, and V5 generated from the electrical signals are the same as leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1 or V2, and V5 that would be generated from the electrical signals of a standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiogram.

25. The device of claim 23 wherein the signal processor includes a software module for mathematically generating leads V1 or V2, V3, V4, and V6 from the electrical signals.

26. The device of claim 25 wherein the software module generates the leads mathematically from the electrical signals acquired by the signal processor using multiple-linear regression.

27. The device of claim 26 wherein the software module uses expansion coefficients in the multiple-linear regression to generate the leads.

28. The device of claim 27 wherein the expansion coefficients are determined from a data set of electrocardiograms from a general population.

29. The device of claim 27 wherein the expansion coefficients are determined from a sub-population based on at least one of sex, age, race, height, weight, and body habitus.

30. The device of claim 27 wherein the expansion coefficients are determined from a data set of electrocardiograms from the same patient.

31. A method of acquiring and processing electrical signals produced by a patient'"'"'s heart, the method comprising the acts of:

attaching a plurality of less than ten electrodes to the patient, the act of attaching including attaching each of the electrodes in a one of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiogram positions;

acquiring electrical signals from the electrodes; and

generating a at least one twelve-lead electrocardiogram from the electrical signals in a time period of approximately 200 milliseconds as the electrical signals are acquired using population-based equations.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the act of attaching a plurality of electrodes further comprises the act of attaching an electrode in one of (a) approximately the fourth intercostal space at the right border of the patient'"'"'s sternum and (b) approximately the fourth intercostal space at the left border of the patient'"'"'s sternum.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein the act of attaching a plurality of electrodes further comprises the act of attaching an electrode in approximately the fifth intercostal space at the patient'"'"'s anterior axillary line.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein the act of attaching a plurality of electrodes further comprises the act of attaching an electrode to the patient'"'"'s left arm.

35. The method of claim 31 wherein the act of attaching a plurality of electrodes further comprises the act of attaching an electrode to the patient'"'"'s right arm.

36. The method of claim 31 wherein the act of attaching a plurality of electrodes further comprises the act of attaching an electrode to the patient'"'"'s left leg.

37. The method of claim 31 wherein the act of attaching a plurality of electrodes further comprises the act of attaching an electrode to a grounding point on the patient'"'"'s body.

38. The method of claim 31 wherein the act of generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram includes generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram in real-time as the electrical signals are acquired.

39. The method of claim 31 wherein the act of acquiring the electrical signals further comprises the act of acquiring the electrical signals with a signal processor coupled to a telemetry monitor.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the act of acquiring the electrical signals from the electrodes further comprises the act of acquiring electrical signals from the electrodes of more than one patient.

41. The method of claim 31 wherein the act of generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram further comprises the act of generating leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, and V6.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1 or V2, and V5 that would be generated from the electrical signals are the same as leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1 or V2, and V5 generated from the electrical signals of a standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiogram.

43. The method of claim 41 wherein the act of generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram further comprises the act of mathematically generating leads V1 or V2, V3, V4, and V6 from the electrical signals.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein the act of generating the leads further comprises the act of generating the leads using multiple-linear regression.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein the act of generating the leads further comprises the act of using expansion coefficients in the multiple-linear regression.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein the act of generating the leads further comprises the act of determining the expansion coefficients from a data set of electrocardiograms from a general population.

47. The method of claim 45 wherein the act of generating the leads further comprises the act of determining the expansion coefficients from a data set of electrocardiograms from a sub-population based on at least one of sex, age, race, height, weight, and body habitus.

48. The method of claim 45 wherein the act of generating the leads further comprises the act of determining the expansion coefficients from a data set of electrocardiograms from the same patient.

49. A device for acquiring and processing electrical signals produced by a patient'"'"'s heart, the device comprising:

a plurality of less than ten electrodes for attachment to the patient, at least two of the electrodes attachable to the patient'"'"'s chest in two of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiograph positions and at least three of the electrodes attachable to the patient'"'"'s limbs in three of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiograph positions; and

a signal processor connected to the electrodes for acquiring electrical signals from the electrodes and for generating a at least one twelve-lead electrocardiogram from the electrical signals in a time period of approximately 200 milliseconds as the electrical signals are acquired using population-based equations.

50. The device of claim 49 wherein the electrodes attachable to the patient'"'"'s chest include an electrode attachable in one of (a) approximately the fourth intercostal space at the right border of the patient'"'"'s sternum and (b) approximately the fourth intercostal space at the left border of the patient'"'"'s sternum.

51. The device of claim 49 wherein the electrodes attachable to the patient'"'"'s chest include an electrode attachable in approximately the fifth intercostal space at the patient'"'"'s anterior axillary line.

52. The device of claim 49 wherein the electrodes attachable to the patient'"'"'s limbs include an electrode attachable to the patient'"'"'s left arm.

53. The device of claim 49 wherein the electrodes attachable to the patient'"'"'s limbs include an electrode attachable to the patient'"'"'s right arm.

54. The device of claim 49 wherein the electrodes attachable to the patient'"'"'s limbs include an electrode attachable to the patient'"'"'s left leg.

55. The device of claim 49 wherein the plurality of electrodes includes an electrode attachable to a grounding point on the patient'"'"'s body.

56. The device of claim 49 wherein the signal processor generates a twelve-lead electrocardiogram in real-time as the electrical signals are acquired.

57. The device of claim 49 and further comprising a telemetry monitor coupled to the electrodes and to the signal processor.

58. The device of claim 57 wherein the device acquires electrical signals from the electrodes of more than one patient.

59. The device of claim 49 wherein the generated twelve-lead electrocardiogram includes leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, and V6.

60. The device of claim 59 wherein leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1 or V2, and V5 generated from the electrical signals are the same as leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1 or V2, and V5 that would be generated from the electrical signals of a standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiogram.

61. The device of claim 59 wherein the signal processor includes a software module for mathematically generating leads V1 or V2, V3, V4, and V6 from the electrical signals.

62. The device of claim 61 wherein the software module generates the leads mathematically from the electrical signals acquired by the signal processor using multiple-linear regression.

63. The device of claim 62 wherein the software module uses expansion coefficients in the multiple-linear regression to generate the leads.

64. The device of claim 63 wherein the expansion coefficients are determined from a data set of electrocardiograms from a general population.

65. The device of claim 63 wherein the expansion coefficients are determined from a data set of electrocardiograms from a sub-population based on at least one of sex, age, race, height, weight, and body habitus.

66. The device of claim 63 wherein the expansion coefficients are determined from a data set of electrocardiograms from the same patient.

67. A method of acquiring and processing electrical signals produced by a patient'"'"'s heart, the method comprising the acts of:

attaching a plurality of less than ten electrodes to the patient, the act of attaching including

attaching at least two of the electrodes to the patient'"'"'s chest in two of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiogram positions, and

attaching at least three of the electrodes to the patient'"'"'s limbs in three of the standard ten-electrode twelve-lead electrocardiogram positions;

acquiring electrical signals from the electrodes; and

generating a at least one twelve-lead electrocardiogram from the electrical signals in a time period of approximately 200 milliseconds as the electrical sigznals are acquired using population-based equations.

68. The method of claim 67 wherein the act of attaching electrodes to the patient'"'"'s chest includes the act of attaching an electrode in one of (a) approximately the fourth intercostal space at the right border of the patient'"'"'s sternum and (b) approximately the fourth intercostal space at the left border of the patient'"'"'s sternum.

69. The method of claim 67 wherein the act of attaching electrodes to the patient'"'"'s chest includes the act of attaching an electrode in approximately the fifth intercostal space at the patient'"'"'s anterior axillary line.

70. The method of claim 67 wherein the act of attaching electrodes to the patient'"'"'s limbs includes the act of attaching an electrode to the patient'"'"'s left arm.

71. The method of claim 67 wherein the act of attaching electrodes to the patient'"'"'s limbs includes the act of attaching an electrode to the patient'"'"'s right arm.

72. The method of claim 67 wherein the act of attaching electrodes to the patient'"'"'s limbs includes the act of attaching an electrode to the patient'"'"'s left leg.

73. The method of claim 67 wherein the act of attaching a plurality of electrodes to the patient includes the act of attaching an electrode to a grounding point on the patient'"'"'s body.

74. The method of claim 67 wherein the act of generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram includes generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram in real-time as the electrical signals are acquired.

75. The method of claim 67 wherein the act of acquiring the electrical signals further comprises the act of acquiring the electrical signals with a signal processor coupled to a telemetry monitor.

76. The method of claim 75 wherein the act of acquiring the electrical signals from the electrodes further comprises the act of acquiring electrical signals from the electrodes of more than one patient.

77. The method of claim 67 wherein the act of generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram further comprises the act of generating leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, and V6.

78. The method of claim 77 wherein leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1 or V2, and V5 generated from the electrical signals are the same as leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1 or V2, and V5 that would be generated from the electrical signals of a standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiograph.

79. The method of claim 78 wherein the act of generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram further comprises the act of mathematically generating leads V1 or V2, V3, V4, and V6 from the electrical signals.

80. The method of claim 79 wherein the act of generating the leads further comprises the act of using expansion coefficients in the multiple-linear regression.

81. The method of claim 80 wherein the act of generating the leads further comprises the act of determining the expansion coefficients from a data set of electrocardiograms from a general population.

82. The method of claim 80 wherein the act of generating the leads further comprises the act of determining the expansion coefficients from a data set of electrocardiograms from a sub-population based on at least one of sex, age, race, height, weight, and body habitus.

83. The method of claim 80 wherein the act of generating the leads further comprises the act of determining the expansion coefficients from a data set of electrocardiograms from the same patient.

84. A method of generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram from electrical data acquired from a patient'"'"'s heart, the method comprising the acts of:

attaching a plurality of less than ten electrodes to the patient, the act of attaching including attaching at least two of the electrodes to the patient'"'"'s chest in two of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiogram positions and attaching at least three of the electrodes to the patient'"'"'s limbs in three of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiogram positions;

acquiring a first and second channel of data from the electrodes attached to the patient'"'"'s chest;

acquiring a third and fourth channel of data from the electrodes attached to the patient'"'"'s limbs;

generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram from the acquired channels of data.

85. The method of claim 84 wherein the act of attaching electrodes to the patient'"'"'s chest further comprises the act of attaching an electrode in one of (a) approximately the fourth intercostal space at the right border of the patient'"'"'s sternum and (b) approximately the fourth intercostal space at the left border of the patient'"'"'s sternum.

86. The method of claim 84 wherein the act of attaching electrodes to the patient'"'"'s chest further comprises the act of attaching an electrode in approximately the fifth intercostal space at the patient'"'"'s anterior axillary line.

87. The method of claim 84 wherein the act of attaching electrodes to the patient'"'"'s limbs further comprises the act of attaching an electrode to the patient'"'"'s left arm.

88. The method of claim 84 wherein the act of attaching electrodes to the patient'"'"'s limbs further comprises the act of attaching an electrode to the patient'"'"'s right arm.

89. The method of claim 84 wherein the act of attaching electrodes to the patient'"'"'s limbs further comprises the act of attaching an electrode to the patient'"'"'s left leg.

90. The method of claim 84 wherein the act of attaching a plurality of electrodes further comprises the act of attaching an electrode to a grounding point on the patient'"'"'s body.

91. The method of claim 84 and further comprising the act of coupling four amplifiers to the electrodes.

92. The method of claim 91 and further comprising the act of coupling a signal processor to the amplifiers.

93. The method of claim 92 and further comprising the act of coupling the signal processor to a telemetry monitor.

94. The method of claim 93 wherein the act of acquiring the channels of data further comprises the act of acquiring channels of data from more than one patient.

95. The method of claim 84 wherein the act of generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram further comprises the act of generating leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, and V6.

96. The method of claim 95 wherein leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1 or V2, and V5 generated from the electrical signals are the same as leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1 or V2, and V5 that would be generated from the electrical signals of a standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiogram.

97. The method of claim 96 wherein the act of generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram further comprises the act of mathematically generating leads V1 or V2, V3, V4, and V6 from the electrical signals.

98. The method of claim 97 wherein the act of generating the leads further comprises the act of generating the leads using multiple-linear regression.

99. The method of claim 98 wherein the act of generating the leads further comprises the act of using expansion coefficients in the multiple-linear regression.

100. The method of claim 99 wherein the act of generating the leads further comprises the act of determining the expansion coefficients from a data set of electrocardiograms from a general population.

101. The method of claim 99 wherein the act of generating the leads further comprises the act of determining the expansion coefficients from a data set of electrocardiograms from a sub-population based on at least one of sex, age, race, height, weight, and body habitus.

102. The method of claim 99 wherein the act of generating the leads further comprises the act of determining the expansion coefficients from a data set of electrocardiograms from the same patient.

103. An electrocardiograph device for acquiring and processing electrical data from a patient'"'"'s heart, the device comprising:

a plurality of less than ten electrodes attachable to the patient,

at least two of the plurality of electrodes attachable to the patient'"'"'s chest in two of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiograph positions, the output of the electrodes attachable to the patient'"'"'s chest being a first and second channel of data, and

at least three of the plurality of electrodes attachable to the patient'"'"'s limbs in three of the standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiograph positions, the output of the electrodes attachable to the patient'"'"'s limbs being a third and fourth channel of data; and

a signal processor for acquiring the channels of data and for generating a twelve-lead electrocardiogram from the acquired channels of data.

104. The device of claim 103 wherein the electrodes attachable to the patient'"'"'s chest include an electrode attachable in one of (a) approximately the fourth intercostal space at the right border of the patient'"'"'s sternum and (b) approximately the fourth intercostal space at the left border of the patient'"'"'s sternum.

105. The device of claim 103 wherein the electrodes attachable to the patient'"'"'s chest include an electrode attachable in approximately the fifth intercostal space at the patient'"'"'s anterior axillary line.

106. The device of claim 103 wherein the electrodes attachable to the patient'"'"'s limbs include an electrode attachable to the patient'"'"'s left arm.

107. The device of claim 103 wherein the electrodes attachable to the patient'"'"'s limbs include an electrode attachable to the patient'"'"'s right arm.

108. The device of claim 103 wherein the electrodes attachable to the patient'"'"'s limbs include an electrode attachable to the patient'"'"'s left leg.

109. The device of claim 103 wherein the plurality of electrodes include an electrode attachable to a grounding point on the patient'"'"'s body.

110. The device of claim 103 and further comprising four amplifiers coupled to the electrodes.

111. The device of claim 103 and further comprising a telemetry monitor coupled to the electrodes and to the signal processor.

112. The device of claim 111 wherein the device acquires channels of data from more than one patient.

113. The device of claim 103 wherein the generated twelve-lead electrocardiogram includes leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, and V6.

114. The device of claim 113 wherein leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1 or V2, and V5 generated from the electrical signals are the same as leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1 or V2, and V5 that would be generated from the electrical signals of a standard ten-electrode, twelve-lead electrocardiogram.

115. The device of claim 113 wherein the signal processor includes a software module for mathematically generating leads V1 or V2, V3, V4, and V6 from the electrical signals.

116. The device of claim 115 wherein the software module generates the leads mathematically from the electrical signals acquired by the signal processor using multiple-linear regression.

117. The device of claim 116 wherein the software module expansion coefficients in the multiple-linear-regression to generate the leads.

118. The device of claim 117 wherein the expansion coefficients are determined from a data set of electrocardiograms from a general population.

119. The device of claim 117 wherein the expansion coefficients are determined from a data set of electrocardiograms from a sub-population based on at least one of sex, age, race, height, weight, and body habitus.

120. The device of claim 117 wherein the expansion coefficients are determined from a data set of electrocardiograms from the same patient.